Project description
A new model for increased solar energy efficiency
Solar photovoltaics (PVs) and sustainable fuel production from photocatalysis have emerged as alternative technologies to fossil fuels. However, these technologies need innovative methods to improve and increase their efficiency and keep their costs low. The EU-funded FENCES project will demonstrate an innovative mechanism relying on the phenomenon of the bulk PV effect in ferroelectrics. The mechanism will combine ferroelectrics and photoactive materials in nanocomposite thin films to increase solar energy efficiency. FENCES will design and synthesise optimal ferroelectric nanostructures and control their characteristics. The project will also develop precise device models to accurately explain and predict device behaviour and use these models to predict optimal materials.
Objective
Solar photovoltaics (PVs) and sustainable fuel production from photocatalysis are key technologies to displacing fossil fuel use. However, in order to drive rapid growth in PVs, and the commercial viability of photocatalytic solar fuel production, innovative technological approaches are needed to increase efficiencies while keeping costs low.
FENCES aims to demonstrate a new mechanism for solar energy conversion and use this to drive up the efficiencies of these key technologies. This will draw on a phenomenon found in ferroelectrics, known as the bulk photovoltaic (BPV) effect. While this has demonstrated photovoltages above the theoretical limit for conventional PVs, efficiency has remained low due to poor light absorption and charge transport. FENCES will overcome these limitations by intimately combining ferroelectrics and photoactive materials in nanocomposite thin films. This will couple the high electric field from the ferroelectric to the photoactive material, demonstrating novel behaviour with the potential to exceed the performance of current technologies.
In order to achieve this, FENCES will:
1. Design and synthesise optimal ferroelectric nanostructures and gain control over their properties, including the BPV effect, through careful study and tuning of the material properties in both precision model systems and low-cost, solution-based materials;
2. Develop detailed device models to accurately describe and predict the behaviour of these novel devices, incorporating progressive knowledge and understanding throughout the project using both empirical data and computational modelling;
3. Use these models to predict the optimum materials, structures and designs to demonstrate this novel technology and optimise device performance;
4. Fabricate and test proof-of-concept devices based on these optimised designs to validate the models and prove the hypothesis, establishing a new frontier in solar energy generation and wider science.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- engineering and technology materials engineering nanocomposites
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
E1 4NS LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.